Starting tonight – Friday, August 12th – F Train Service into Manhattan from Roosevelt Island ends for the weekend. F Trains will be rerouted along the E Line, starting at 9:45 p.m., until 5:00 a.m. on Monday. This presents some problems, but here are a few easy enough work arounds.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Coney Island-bound F runs via the E from Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av to Canal St and via the A to Jay St-MetroTech. Aug 12 – 15, Fri 9:45 PM to Mon 5:00 AM
MTA: Planned Service Changes
Alternatives with F Train Service into Manhattan Down
Number One: The F Train
It may seem like a contradiction, but the F Train may be your best option this weekend. Hop on a Queens bound F and take it to Jackson Heights. There, grab a free transfer to Manhattan bound Es, Fs and Rs. It takes a little more time, but it’s reliable and around the clock. Caution: The Queens side elevator at Roosevelt Island is out of service, and escalators at all levels in both directions are unpredictable.
Number Two: The Q102 Bus
A close second is the Q102 bus. Just five to ten minutes after leaving Roosevelt Island, the Q102 arrives at Queens Plaza with connections to other bus lines but also E,M and R Trains in both directions. You can be in Midtown in minutes or racing off into Queens. Avoid a longer than necessary ride by boarding across from PS/IS 217. From there the Q102 exits the Island. Other stops are mostly consistent with Red Bus stops.
Number Three: The Tram
Although the Tram has both cabins running now, with F Train Service out, demand will be high, especially on the Roosevelt Island side. Long lines are likely. Tourists double the issue by arriving without face masks. Spotty enforcement by PSD and Tram operators means you can find yourself jammed in with out-of-towners ignoring clearly posted rules designed to protect you from COVID.
Number Four: NYC Ferry
The only immediate drawback with the ferry service is limited connections, although southbound, you can catch up with other mass transit at 34th Street or Wall Street. But you must pay an additional fare. The last stop north lets you off at Carl Schurz Park, a lovely retreat with cool breezes, shady trees and dog runs that put Roosevelt Island’s to shame.
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As the Dust Settles
The way the wind cuts across the river this time of year. The way older buildings hold heat but never quite hold air. I told myself that was why my chest felt tight again on certain mornings. Age, perhaps.
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